Musical instrument string



March 19386 R. s. GOULD, JR

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STRING Filed July 27, 1936 INVENTOR. fay/770M c5.oa/dcf/f ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMUSICAL INSTRUMENT STRING Mich.

Application July 27,

8 Claims.

Musical instrument strings of the wound type are commonly made with agut core or tension member, and this is subject to substantial changeunder varying weather conditions, stretching materially in dampatmospheres and tightening or contracting in dry atmospheres, whichrenders it difficult to keep the strings in tune, and this also resultsin changing of the tone quality of the strings.

The main object of my invention is to provide a musical instrumentstring of the wound type which is not materially affected by atmosphericconditions and the tension element is not subject to material stretchingand contracting and at the same time has a very satisfactory tonequality.

A further object is to produce a musical instrument string having theseadvantages which may be produced economically.

Objects relating to details of construction will appear from thedescription to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. Astructure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, conventionalized, of a musical instrument stringembodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figs. 1and 3, the diameters of the elements being greatly exaggerated forconvenience in illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in longitudinal section, taken online 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary perspective View.

3 Referring to the drawing, my improved mu sical instrument string,designated generally by the numeral l, comprises a plurality of strands2 of fine wire disposed in parallel relation and extending from end toend of the string. These 40 strands are not twisted, and while in Fig. 2I

have illustrated them as being accurately positioned relative to eachother, it will be understood that in practice it is not necessary tohave the wires grouped in this exact manner but they are merely groupedside by side and in as compact bundles as may be conveniently done.These wires constitute the tension element of the string and around themI arrange strands of fibrous material 3, preferably of silk, or otherfine fiber may be used. These strands are not twisted together but arearranged longitudinally of the string and of the tension element, thearrangement being such as to provide a fibrous covering of approximatelyuniform thickness around the wire strands.

1936, Serial No. 92,767

Upon these strands of fiber I wind a wire covering 4, this beingspirally wound and under such tension as to compressibly embrace thefibrous strands, holding the fibrous strands and the longitudinalstrands 2 in their assembled relation. To provide a knot or enlargement5 for engagement with the tail piece, a double winding of the coveringWire is provided, and I preferably provide the string with a reducedportion 6 for engagement with the tuning pegs.

This musical instrument string has highly desirable tone quality and maybe manufactured with great uniformity. It is not subject to materialexpansion and contraction, which obviates many of the difficultiesexperienced with wound strings having gut cores. Owing to the fact thatthe strands are parallel there is no material extension when placedunder tuning stress. The string may be economically produced and it isvery durable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A musical instrument string comprising a plurality of longitudinallyparallel strands of straight, uncoiled, fine wire, longitudinallydisposed strands of silk arranged about said strands of wire to providea substantial casing therefor, and a wire covering spirally wound uponsaid strands of silk and compressively embracing the same.

2. A musical instrument string consisting of a plurality of strands ofstraight, uncoiled, fine wire disposed in longitudinally parallelrelation, longitudinal strands of fibrous material disposed about saidstrands of wire in parallel relation thereto and constituting a fibrouscovering therefor, and a winding strand of wire helically wound uponsaid fibrous strands and compressively embracing the same, said strandsof wire constituting the tension member of the string.

3. A musical instrument string comprising a plurality of parallelstrands of straight, uncoiled, wire providing a tension member for thestring, longitudinally disposed strands of fibrous material arrangedabout said strands of wire, and a wire covering spirally wound upon saidstrands of fiber.

i. A musical instrument string consisting of a plurality of strands ofstraight, uncoiled, wire disposed in parallel relation, strands offibrous material disposed about said strands of wire and constituting afibrous covering therefor, and a Winding strand of wire helically woundupon said fibrous strands and compressively embracing the 7. In amusical instrument string, a plurality of strands of fine wire disposedin longitudinally parallel relation providing a tension member for thestring, strands of fibrous material parallel to the tension member andconstituting a cover therefor, and a further covering member enclosingsaid strands.

8. In a musical instrument string, a plurality of strands of fine Wiredisposed in longitudinally parallel relation providing a tension memberfor the string, a fibrous cover for said member, and a further coveringmember enclosing said cover.

RAYMOND S. GOULD, JR.

